Christmas time

I both love and hate this time of year.


Love it being with friends and family, cooking (and eating) yummy food, putting up the lights and the tree, wrapping gifts and letting some of that magical Christmas feeling wander round the house. Love gingerbread and fruit cake and the aroma of glazed Christmas ham.


Hate it being rushed and too busy, navigating traffic and crowds, people who have forgotten their manners and me trying to do too much. Hate the over-commercialism of the whole occasion and the (occasional, make that every year!) delicate (make that robust!) negotiations about where Christmas will be celebrated.


So this year I am making a concerted effort to slow down, do the Christmas things that make our house feel Christmassy and make me feel like the magic is spreading....some baking, a new wreath for the front door, a sparkly tree. I am thinking about the year that has almost passed...about those who are not with us....about the year that is to come and about those who are here to share the joy. I am also thinking about those among us who have lost so much and wishing for everyone some peace at this time of year.


And really, when i find myself getting a tiny bit stressy about the Christmas to do list, it takes only a split second to remind me how blessed I am and what it's really about.


It's about them.

Thinking of all of you with love at Christmas time